Gaming from your couch requires a good TV with specific qualities, namely low input lag. I've been reviewing TVs (and gaming devices) for more than 15 years. I'm a certified TV calibrator, and I test every TV I review using special equipment to get hard numbers I can compare across models. I watch movies and play games on them, too, because numbers aren't everything. The Samsung S95H is the best high-end TV for gaming, and the most responsive, earning our first PCMag Lab Award for lowest input lag. If you want to save some money, the LG Evo C5 is a great value OLED TV for gamers, and the Hisense U65QF is the best budget screen available; all three feature high refresh rates with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which is ideal for smooth gameplay. But these aren't the only models we recommend, so read on for all of our top picks to find the one that's right for you.
Overview
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![Samsung S95H]()
Lowest Input LagSamsung S95H
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![Hisense U65QF]()
Best Budget-Friendly TVHisense U65QF
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![LG Evo C5 OLED TV]()
Best OLED TV ValueLG Evo C5 OLED TV
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![Hisense U8QG]()
Best Overall ValueHisense U8QG
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![Roku Pro Series]()
Best Roku TVRoku Pro Series
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![Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED]()
Best Affordable Fire TVAmazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED
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![SunBriteTV Veranda 3 Series]()
Best Outdoor TVSunBriteTV Veranda 3 Series
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Credit: Will Greenwald
![Samsung S95H]()
Lowest Input LagSamsung S95H
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Samsung S95H is one of the best-looking TVs I've seen yet, and the most responsive one, too. I measured a latency of just 9.2 milliseconds with a 4K60 signal, earning the S95H a PCMag Lab Award for lowest input lag. It's well-equipped, too, with a 165Hz native refresh rate with VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and Nvidia G-Sync.
Who It's For
Home theater fans: Besides the great gaming performance and features, the S95H simply looks and sounds great. It's the brightest OLED TV I've tested, with wide, accurate color. It also has a built-in 4.2.2-channel spatial audio system you can expand with a compatible Samsung soundbar. Samsung's Q-Symphony feature will combine the TV's built-in drivers with the soundbar's for a bigger, more immersive sound field than either can deliver on its own.
Fighting game and FPS players: With the lowest combined latency (4K60 and 1080p120) of any TV I've tested, the S95H stands out for any serious fighting game fans who need to count frames and shooter fans who need every millisecond of responsiveness. It's a PCMag Lab Award winner and the best TV for anyone looking for the lowest possible input lag.
Specs & Configurations
AMD FreeSync FreeSync Premium Pro HDMI Ports 4 HDR HDR10 HDR HDR10+ Nvidia G-Sync G-Sync Panel Type OLED Refresh Rate 165 Resolution 3,840 by 2,160 Screen Brightness 1715 Screen Size 65 Streaming Services Yes Video Inputs HDMI Video Inputs RF Video Inputs USB VRR Learn More Samsung 65-Inch S95H OLED TV Review -
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Credit Joseph Maldonado
![Hisense U65QF]()
Best Budget-Friendly TVHisense U65QF
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Hisense U65QF looks far better than its low price implies. A dim picture is one of the most common compromises cheap TVs make, but this is one of the first we've seen in this price range to push past 1,000 nits of light output. That's bright enough to properly display HDR content, and it features wide and accurate colors to complement it. It's also surprisingly well-equipped for gaming, with a native 144Hz refresh rate and VRR, as well as AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, features not often seen on budget TVs.
Who It's For
Budget shoppers: If you want a great-looking TV that can keep up with your games without spending a lot of money, the U65QF is the best choice. It punches far above its weight class for its price, with the refresh rate and low input lag you're looking for.
Specs & Configurations
AMD FreeSync FreeSync Premium Pro HDMI Ports 4 HDR Dolby Vision HDR HDR-10 Input Lag (1080p120) 4.6 Input Lag (4K60) 13.1 Nvidia G-Sync None Panel Type LED Refresh Rate 144 Resolution 3,840 by 2,160 Screen Brightness 1024 Screen Size 65 Streaming Services Yes Video Inputs Composite Video Inputs HDMI Video Inputs RF Video Inputs USB VRR Learn More Hisense 65U65QF Review -
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Credit: Will Greenwald
![LG Evo C5 OLED TV]()
Best OLED TV ValueLG Evo C5 OLED TV
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The LG Evo C5 is a simply excellent OLED TV with a great-looking picture, which you can usually find for a reasonable price. Its official MSRP ($2,699.99 for the 65-inch model) might be daunting, but it's often available for well under $1,500. For an OLED, that's an incredible deal. It might not be as bright as LG's much more expensive flagship OLED, but it offers similarly wide and accurate colors, along with plenty of features, including hands-free Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and Google Cast, as well as support for both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for gaming.
Who It's For
PC gamers: With a variable refresh rate of up to 144Hz and both FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync certification, the Evo C5 will deliver smooth, tear-free gameplay, whether you're a Radeon or GeForce PC gamer.
OLED buyers on a budget: If you've been eying an OLED TV for gaming but the price has put you off, the Evo C5 is ideal. It offers the per-pixel light control and slim design that OLED technology affords, at a price comparable with a mid-to-high-end LED TV.
Specs & Configurations
AMD FreeSync FreeSync HDMI Ports 4 HDR Dolby Vision HDR HDR10 Input Lag (1080p120) 4.5 Input Lag (4K60) 12.9 Nvidia G-Sync G-Sync Compatible Panel Type OLED Refresh Rate 120 Resolution 3,840 by 2,160 Screen Brightness 944 Screen Size 65 Streaming Services Yes Video Inputs HDMI Video Inputs RF Video Inputs USB VRR Learn More LG 65-Inch Evo C5 OLED TV Review -
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Credit: Will Greenwald
![Hisense U8QG]()
Best Overall ValueHisense U8QG
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Hisense U8QG is one of the brightest and most feature-packed TVs available. Although it's more expensive than its predecessor, the U8N, it remains reasonably priced. It features 165Hz VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and has a built-in 4.1.2-channel spatial audio speaker system. If you want to easily connect any mobile device you have on hand, you can use the unique side-mounted DisplayPort-over-USB-C ports.
Who It's For
Sound quality enthusiasts: Spatial audio can truly immerse you in the game you're playing, and the U8QG's 4.1.2-channel speaker setup can provide that with a large, detailed sound field in front of you, featuring both vertical and horizontal imaging. It won't give you much of a tactical edge in shooters, though; there are limits to what this type of sound system can produce without separate rear satellites.
Gamers with three or fewer systems: This is an excellent TV with strong gaming performance and numerous features, but be cautious if you frequently use multiple gaming platforms. It only has three HDMI ports, so if you have all three consoles and a gaming PC, you'll have to do some juggling. The USB-C port is convenient and lets you connect a fourth device (that can output over USB-C) at 4K165, but it doesn't support HDR, and means you'll have a visible cable running from the side of your screen when you use it.
Specs & Configurations
AMD FreeSync FreeSync Premium Pro HDMI Ports 3 HDR Dolby Vision HDR HDR-10 Input Lag (1080p120) 4.3 Input Lag (4K60) 10.1 Nvidia G-Sync None Panel Type LED Refresh Rate 165 Resolution 3,840 by 2,160 Screen Brightness 3200 Screen Size 65 Streaming Services Yes Video Inputs HDMI Video Inputs RF Video Inputs USB VRR Learn More Hisense 65U8QG Review -
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Credit: Will Greenwald
![Roku Pro Series]()
Best Roku TVRoku Pro Series
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The 2025 Pro Series is Roku's best TV yet, and the best I've tested that uses the Roku OS smart TV interface. For gaming, it features a 120Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, with very low input lag. Its picture is bright and colorful, you can control it hands-free, plus it even has a remote finder feature.
Who It's For
Simplicity seekers: We recommend Roku devices for their accessible and direct interface, which focuses almost entirely on accessing media with minimal distractions and extraneous features. It's a great platform for anyone who's not particularly tech-savvy, but even if you're an avid gamer, you might prefer its simple interface design, which lets you jump into your favorites without many distracting extras, such as a full voice assistant or comprehensive smart home hub functionality.
Specs & Configurations
AMD FreeSync FreeSync Premium Pro HDMI Ports 4 HDR Dolby Vision HDR HDR-10 Input Lag (1080p120) 5.2 Input Lag (4K60) 9.4 Nvidia G-Sync None Panel Type LED Refresh Rate 120 Resolution 3,840 by 2,160 Screen Brightness 1941 Screen Size 65 Streaming Services Yes Video Inputs HDMI Video Inputs RF Video Inputs USB VRR -
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![Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED]()
Best Affordable Fire TVAmazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Fire TV Omni Mini-LED is Amazon's best Fire TV, and far brighter than any other model. It's also the first Amazon TV with a refresh rate higher than 60Hz. Its 120Hz native panel supports VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro at up to 144Hz.
Who It's For
Alexa fans: If you use Alexa almost as much as your game system, this is a great pick thanks to its far-field microphone array for hands-free voice assistance.
Specs & Configurations
AMD FreeSync FreeSync Premium Pro HDMI Ports 4 HDR Dolby Vision HDR HDR-10 Input Lag (1080p120) 6.4 Nvidia G-Sync None Panel Type LED Refresh Rate 120 Resolution 3,840 by 2,160 Screen Brightness 1623 Screen Size 65 Streaming Services Yes Video Inputs HDMI Video Inputs RF Video Inputs USB VRR -
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![SunBriteTV Veranda 3 Series]()
Best Outdoor TVSunBriteTV Veranda 3 Series
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Playing video games outdoors sounds like fun, but unless you're willing to haul your TV in and out every time, you need some serious weatherproofing. Outdoor TVs are much more expensive than most other TVs, but that's because they can handle heat, cold, and rain without breaking. They also tend to have screen treatments that reduce glare and make the TV viewable in sunlight, or at least in shade with sunlight nearby.
The SunBriteTV Veranda 3 is the best outdoor TV we've tested so far, as it hits all of those notes and offers fairly strong picture quality and gaming performance. It gets reasonably bright and shows wide, accurate color. Furthermore, it features a Google TV interface, providing access to a variety of streaming services and other useful features. It only has a 60Hz refresh rate, but it supports AMD FreeSync and has low input lag.
Who It's For
Backyard brawlers: This is the TV to get for gaming in the backyard, on the patio, or near the pool. You can get better-looking, more responsive TVs with enhanced gaming features, but none of them can withstand being outside all year.
Specs & Configurations
AMD FreeSync FreeSync Black Level 0.2 Contrast Ratio 3,631:1 HDMI Ports 4 HDR Dolby Vision HDR HDR-10 Input Lag (1080p120) 8.6 Nvidia G-Sync None Panel Type LED Refresh Rate 60 Resolution 3,840 by 2,160 Screen Brightness 722.53 Screen Size 55 Streaming Services Yes Video Inputs Composite Video Inputs HDMI Video Inputs RF Video Inputs USB VRR -
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Best For | Lowest Input Lag | Best Budget-Friendly TV | Best OLED TV Value | Best Overall Value | Best Roku TV | Best Affordable Fire TV | Best Outdoor TV | Lowest Input Lag | Best Budget-Friendly TV | Best OLED TV Value |
Panel Type | OLED | LED | OLED | LED | LED | LED | LED | OLED | LED | OLED |
Screen Size | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 55 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
Resolution | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 | 3,840 by 2,160 |
Video Inputs | HDMI, RF, USB | HDMI, Composite, RF, USB | HDMI, RF, USB | HDMI, USB, RF | HDMI, RF, USB | HDMI, RF, USB | HDMI, Composite, RF, USB | HDMI, RF, USB | HDMI, Composite, RF, USB | HDMI, RF, USB |
HDR | HDR10, HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR-10 | Dolby Vision, HDR10 | Dolby Vision, HDR-10 | Dolby Vision, HDR-10 | Dolby Vision, HDR-10 | HDR-10, Dolby Vision | HDR10, HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR-10 | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Streaming Services | ||||||||||
Screen Brightness | 1715 | 1024 | 944 | 3200 | 1941 | 1623 | 722.53 | 1715 | 1024 | 944 |
Black Level | 0.2 | |||||||||
Contrast Ratio | 3,631:1 | |||||||||
Refresh Rate | 165 | 144 | 120 | 165 | 120 | 120 | 60 | 165 | 144 | 120 |
VRR | ||||||||||
Input Lag (1080p120) | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 8.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | ||
Input Lag (4K60) | 13.1 | 12.9 | 10.1 | 9.4 | 13.1 | 12.9 | ||||
AMD FreeSync | FreeSync Premium Pro | FreeSync Premium Pro | FreeSync | FreeSync Premium Pro | FreeSync Premium Pro | FreeSync Premium Pro | FreeSync | FreeSync Premium Pro | FreeSync Premium Pro | FreeSync |
Nvidia G-Sync | G-Sync | None | G-Sync Compatible | None | None | None | None | G-Sync | None | G-Sync Compatible |
Buying Guide: The Best Gaming TVs for 2026
Are TVs Good for Gaming?
Until a few years ago, advanced gaming features and syncing compatibility were primarily reserved for gaming monitors. Now, TVs are getting into the action, and many of those same features are available over HDMI (rather than DisplayPort, something very few TVs offer). They include Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Nvidia G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync.
ALLM is a simple but useful feature for gaming with a PC, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X/S. When you start playing a game, it sends a signal to the TV, which automatically switches to gaming picture mode and activates any other gaming features. And, when you stop playing, it automatically exits that mode and turns off the related features.
TV shows and movies almost all have consistent frame rates, but game frame rates can vary wildly. As a result, TVs with fixed refresh rates of 60Hz or 120Hz can struggle to display action smoothly. VRR means the TV can adjust its refresh rate on the fly to match the video source. It can reduce or eliminate choppiness and screen tearing in your games.
Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync are other frame- and refresh-rate-syncing features. They let a display sync directly with a PC's graphics card (GeForce and Radeon, respectively) and help reduce screen tearing. Depending on your GPU, either of these features is useful if you plan on connecting your PC to your TV.
What TV Has the Lowest Input Lag?
With a latency of just 9.2 milliseconds with a 4K60 signal, the Samsung S95H earns our PCMag Lab Award for lowest input lag.
Input lag is the amount of time between when a TV receives a signal and the display updates. Fighting games, action games, and other titles that require precise timing perform best when input lag is minimal. It can make the difference between feeling like you have total control over everything happening and needing to constantly compensate for what amounts to very tiny pauses that can throw off your game.
Input lag generally ranges between 2 and 120 milliseconds for TVs, with the biggest differences not appearing between different TVs but between any given TV's game mode and other picture modes. For example, if you play in Theater picture mode on even the fastest TV, you are likely to experience significant lag.
I use a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Video Signal Lag Tester to measure input lag on TVs. It's a device that uses a light sensor that monitors flashing sections of the screen to determine the time it takes for the picture to change after the signal is sent, down to the tenth of a millisecond. I measure input lag with both a 4K signal at 60Hz and a 1080p signal at 120Hz. For both cases, I use a one-frame rule to determine which TV is best for gaming. A single frame at 60Hz is 16.6 milliseconds, and a frame at 120Hz is 8.9 milliseconds. If a TV is faster than that (has lower lag), you're dealing with almost no discernible input lag.
Recommended by Our Editors
I record lag times with the TV's game mode active because input lag is most important for gaming. I also note input lag in other picture modes for reference.
The Best TVs for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X
4K is currently the standard for most new TVs. Whether your games feature true 4K resolution or high dynamic range (HDR), contrast, and color, these depend on the platform you use and the game you play.
Microsoft's Xbox Series X (and Series S) and Sony's PlayStation 5 support 4K resolution (3,840 by 2,160) with HDR. Games on these systems typically look sharper and more vibrant than those for previous-generation consoles such as the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro (and much sharper than the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One S, which don't support 4K gaming at all). The new systems also support graphical features, such as ray tracing, that their predecessors don't. Look for a TV that supports 4K HDR to fully enjoy the latest games.
Refresh rates (the number of times a screen draws a picture per second, measured in Hz) are also important for gaming. All TVs are at least 60Hz, but some are 120Hz (capable of showing twice as many frames per second) or can even hit 144Hz. The newer game consoles support frame rates of up to 120fps (though this is still rare). Nonetheless, fast frame rates paired with a TV with a high refresh rate result in ultra-smooth performance.
Should I Get a Gaming Monitor or a TV?
If you want extremely low input lag and much wider support for various refresh rates and VRR, you need to turn toward smaller screens. By that, we mean dedicated gaming monitors. These are specifically designed for gaming and emphasize responsiveness at least as much as picture quality. Input lag of less than 4ms is common in high-end gaming monitors. They can also include PC-friendly features that further improve performance, such as adaptive refresh rates with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. However, we've seen TVs get closer and closer to these numbers in recent years; many have also begun to offer features like G-Sync and FreeSync, so the distinction between the two might eventually become moot.
The biggest drawback with gaming monitors is that you need to spend much more per square inch. Monitors are generally smaller than TVs and are designed for use from a distance of only a foot or two. They have fewer inputs, don't always feature speakers, and rarely include a remote control. If you want to game from your couch, a gaming monitor simply isn't feasible. But if you're ready to play from your desk, check out our list of the best gaming monitors.
If you simply want the best picture available, meanwhile, check out our roundups of the best TVs, the best 65-inch TVs, and the best 75-inch (and up) TVs. And if you want to save some money, head over to our list of the best cheap TVs, which highlights some models that are still good for gaming.
For more buying advice, see our story on what TV model numbers and SKUs actually mean.